Chapter 5 - A Life Well Loved

Here is another little excerpt from a A Life Well Loved.  There is a lot to Harrison and Ella Mae’s story that I hope you will enjoy as much as you did (or will) Kate’s story. I have said this before—not only do I want you to enjoy this ‘Life’ trilogy, but it’s also my hope it will inspire you to perhaps write about your own family.  It doesn’t have to be in the form of a novel and something to publish for the world to read. Maybe just your own personal journal, something you can pass on to your family members. Children never seem to care about such stories. I know I certainly didn’t.  As you grow older, family history becomes more and more important. Oh how I wish my mom and grandparents were still around so I could ask them about their lives. I know there is so much more to their life experiences than what I can write about. I have so many questions, many of which will never be answered in the pages of my novels. So if you have the opportunity to talk to the older generations of your family, make that your New Year’s resolution.  Get it down on paper.  Cherish the history.  It can even help you to discover more about yourself.  It did that for me.  Read on! 

…..Everyone was having a great summer in 1902. Harrison was done with school and looking forward to earning some of his own money.  Sadly though, that summer turned out to be a tragic and difficult summer for the Limric family. It was the 4th of July, a beautiful warm Friday, and the family was enjoying a picnic in their backyard.  The boys were having a ball taking turns shooting blank cartridges out of a revolver.  Emma was not happy about the kids playing with a gun, but she didn’t want to put a damper on their fun. Harrison’s older brother, Robert, was struck by a wad from one of the cartridges, resulting in quite a bruise on his finger.

“Oh my gosh, Robert, are you all right?” Emma said with great concern.  Robert just laughed it off and said, “I’m fine Mom. It hurts a little, but it’s just a bruise.  It will probably be black and blue for a few days is all. Come on, whose next?” he said as he held out the gun for one of his brothers to take a turn. 

“No, no, no. That’s quite enough play with guns for today,” Emma said, mad at herself that she allowed the boys to play with the gun in the first place.  “It’s time for lunch anyway, so come sit down and eat.”  The day turned out to be a lot of fun for everyone, and they even forgot about the minor accident with Robert’s finger. 

The week continued on as usual, but on that following Wednesday morning, Robert awoke with a very sore and swollen finger.  He was really surprised, because up until then, he hardly noticed the bruise at all.  It hadn’t even hurt much.

Emma was horrified when she saw Robert that morning.  Even William looked concerned. “Oh my gosh, Robert, look at your finger! When did that start?” Emma asked, as she ran over to her son. 

“It was throbbing just a little when I went to bed last night, but I just figured maybe it was from playing baseball yesterday,” he explained. The boys had been playing baseball up the street in the empty lot.  “This morning before dawn, it actually woke me up because it hurts so bad, and my finger feels hot. I guess it’s from last Friday, but really, Ma, it felt fine until now.”

“Harrison, go get Dr. Madison and ask him to come by.  This finger looks infected to me, and I think he needs to take a look at it,” Emma said, trying not to show the boys or even William how concerned she was.  She could tell Robert was in more pain than he was letting on.  Robert was always a strong boy who rarely complained, even when he was sick, so she knew this had to be serious.

Dr. Madison came by a few hours later.  By that time, Robert was back in bed, as he felt very weak, and he had a fever with chills.  “Hi Doc,” Robert said, looking scared and a little confused.  “Hope you can tell me what the heck is wrong with this finger.  It was fine until this morning when I got up.  Hurts like hell—sorry Ma,” he said as Emma give him a look that it was okay. 

“Harrison told me what happened last Friday with the revolver,” Dr. Madison began. “You haven’t  had any symptoms until today?” he asked, as he examined Robert’s finger.  Robert winced in pain every time the doctor touched the wound.  “I know it hurts, Robert, but I have to see how bad the infection is or if it looks like it’s healing at all.  I’ll be done soon,” he explained.

“I hardly even remembered there was a bruise there until today, Doc,” Robert said with tears in his eyes. “The pain just seems to be getting worse and worse, even when it’s not being touched. What could have happened? How could it be okay and then all of a sudden turn into this?” 

By this time, all of the Limric boys were in the hallway at Robert’s bedroom door, with William and Emma in the room looking on as Dr. Madison finished his examination.  Everyone knew this was serious. 

“I’m sorry, Robert, but I think the only thing that might save you is if I remove the finger. It’s a bad infection, and I am very concerned it’s going to spread. If that happens, there may be nothing I can do,”  Dr. Madison said, feeling so bad for this young boy who had his whole life ahead of him.  He wasn’t  entirely confident that would even help, but if he got in there and found more infection, he was thinking amputating the arm might save Robert’s life.  He didn’t want to go into that much detail just yet.

Emma buried her head in William’s chest to try to hide her tears.  She couldn’t believe this was happening all from playing with a gun she never wanted the boys to play with in the first place. 

“No, no!” Robert screamed.  “I want to wait, Doc.  It might get better on its own. At least give it a day to see how it is tomorrow. Then if it’s getting no better, I’ll let you take my finger. I guess I can get along without it, but I want to try first. Please Doc, can’t we wait a day?” 

Dr. Madison knew the Limric boys well. Robert was strong and healthy.  There was always the chance the infection would heal on its own, but he was not sure he was willing to take that chance.  He looked over at Emma and William, clearly seeing how scared both of them were.  Then he looked back at Robert. He had such a determined look on his face, despite how sick he was.  Dr. Madison thought if anyone could “will” an infection to go away, it just might be Robert Limric.  Because he was so healthy otherwise, he decided to wait. 

“Oh thank you, Dr. Madison. Thanks so much! I promise I’ll stay in bed and do whatever you say after tomorrow,” Robert said, feeling like he was already getting better. 

“You stay in this bed, young man,” Dr. Madison instructed. “If you feel any change at all, no matter how slight, you tell your ma and pa, understand?” he went on.  “I don’t care if it’s day or night, you let them know so they can come get me. I want your word on that.”

“Oh, absolutely Doc,” Robert said with a weak smile.  “I really think by tomorrow it’s going to be a lot better.  You’ll see.”

The doctor walked down to the living room with Emma and William following behind him. “Keep him quiet and don’t let him out of that bed until I see him again.  I’ll come back tomorrow morning if I can or early afternoon at the latest. If the finger is no better, I’m going to strongly recommend I amputate.  He might even lose the arm, but I want to give him a chance and save both if I can.” 

The Limrics thanked Dr. Madison for his help, praying that Robert would get through this okay and not have to lose his finger, much less his arm. 

Jonathan Madison left the Limric house not feeling good about his decision, but he did feel, even if the infection did worsen, he probably would only lose the finger and would be able to adjust easily to that.  It would come to be a decision he would regret for the rest of his life….